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Tai CM, Yu ML. Hepatitis C virus micro-elimination in people who inject drugs: Challenges and chance in Taiwan and worldwide. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2024; 40:112-118. [PMID: 38010851 DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
With the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is becoming possible. People who inject drugs (PWID) represent a population with a high risk for HCV infection, which has been reported as high as 90% in Taiwanese PWID. To reach the goal of HCV elimination, PWID is a key population deserving special attention. Barriers in HCV care cascade still exist in PWID, and interventions to promote access to HCV diagnosis, link-to-care, treatment, and prevention for PWID are warranted. Although HCV micro-elimination can be achieved in some prisons and opioid substitution therapy (OST) centers by a multidisciplinary team and integrated care in Taiwan, there are still several unmet needs for HCV elimination in PWID. Continuous efforts, such as the participation of OST specialists and the continuum of care for HCV among PWID, are needed to achieve HCV elimination in Taiwan. In addition, the combination of harm reduction services, treatment as prevention and regular posttreatment HCV surveillance is critical to substantially reduce HCV transmission and prevalence in PWID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Ming Tai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- School of Medicine and Doctoral Program of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medicine and Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine, and Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Tai CM, Huang CK, Changchien TC, Lin PC, Wang DW, Chang TT, Chan HW, Chen TH, Tseng CH, Chen CC, Tsai CT, Sie YT, Yen YC, Yu ML. Collaborative Referral Model to Achieve Hepatitis C Micro-Elimination in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081637. [PMID: 35893702 PMCID: PMC9332799 DOI: 10.3390/v14081637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevails in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), most do not receive anti-HCV therapy. This single-center observational study aimed to achieve HCV micro-elimination at an MMT center during the COVID-19 pandemic using a collaborative referral model, which comprised a referral-for-diagnosis stage (January 2020 to August 2020) and an on-site-diagnosis stage (September 2020 to January 2021). A multidisciplinary team was established and all MMT center patients were enrolled. HCV micro-elimination was defined as >90% of HCV-infected patients diagnosed and >80% of HCV-viremic patients treated. A total of 305 MMT patients, including 275 (90.2%) anti-HCV seropositive patients, were enrolled. Among 189 HCV-infected patients needing referral, the accumulative percentage receiving HCV RNA testing increased from 93 (49.2%) at referral-for-diagnosis stage to 168 (88.9%) at on-site-diagnosis stage. Among 138 HCV-viremic patients, the accumulative percentage receiving direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy increased from 77 (55.8%) at referral-for-diagnosis stage to 129 (93.5%) at on-site-diagnosis stage. We achieved an HCV RNA testing rate of 92.4% (254/275), an HCV treatment rate of 95.8% (203/212) and a sustained virological response rate of 94.1% (191/203). The collaborative referral model is highly effective in HCV RNA testing and HCV treatment uptake among MMT patients, achieving HCV micro-elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Ming Tai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (C.-M.T.); (T.-H.C.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
| | - Chun-Kai Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (C.-K.H.); (C.-T.T.)
- Department of Infection Control, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Te-Chang Changchien
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chun Lin
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Deng-Wu Wang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Ting Chang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Hsue-Wei Chan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Haw Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (C.-M.T.); (T.-H.C.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
| | - Cheng-Hao Tseng
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Cheng Chen
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ta Tsai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (C.-K.H.); (C.-T.T.)
- Department of Infection Control, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Sie
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chieh Yen
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan; (T.-C.C.); (P.-C.L.); (D.-W.W.); (T.-T.C.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-H.T.); (C.-C.C.); (Y.-T.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-7-615-0931; Fax: +886-7-615-0913
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
- School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine, and Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80420, Taiwan
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Huang CF, Wu PF, Yeh ML, Huang CI, Liang PC, Hsu CT, Hsu PY, Liu HY, Huang YC, Lin ZY, Chen SC, Huang JF, Dai CY, Chuang WL, Yu ML. Scaling up the in-hospital hepatitis C virus care cascade in Taiwan. Clin Mol Hepatol 2020; 27:136-143. [PMID: 33317253 PMCID: PMC7820217 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2020.0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Obstacles exist in facilitating hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascade. To increase timely and accurate diagnosis, disease awareness and accessibility, in-hospital HCV reflex testing followed by automatic appointments and a late call-back strategy (R.N.A. model) was applied. We aimed to compare the HCV treatment rate of patients treated with this strategy compared to those without. METHODS One hundred and twenty-five anti-HCV seropositive patients who adopted the R.N.A. model in 2020 and another 1,396 controls treated in 2019 were enrolled to compare the gaps in accurate HCV RNA diagnosis to final treatment allocation. RESULTS The HCV RNA testing rate was significantly higher in patients who received reflex testing than in those without reflex testing (100% vs. 84.8%, P<0.001). When patients were stratified according to the referring outpatient department, a significant improvement in the HCV RNA testing rate was particularly noted in patients from non-hepatology departments (100% vs. 23.3%, P<0.001). The treatment rate in HCV RNA seropositive patients was 83% (83/100) after the adoption of the R.N.A. model, among whom 96.1% and 73.9% of patients were from the hepatology and non-hepatology departments, respectively. Compared to subjects without R.N.A. model application, a significant improvement in the treatment rate was observed for patients from non-hepatology departments (73.9% vs. 27.8%, P=0.001). The application of the R.N.A. model significantly increased the in-hospital HCV treatment uptake from 6.4% to 73.9% for patients from non-hepatology departments (P<0.001). CONCLUSION The care cascade increased the treatment uptake and set up a model for enhancing in-hospital HCV elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Feng Huang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pey-Fang Wu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lun Yeh
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-I Huang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Cheng Liang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Ting Hsu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Yao Hsu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yin Liu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chou Huang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Zu-Yau Lin
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shinn-Cherng Chen
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jee-Fu Huang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yen Dai
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Long Chuang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,College of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
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Yu ML, Tsai WL, Chu CJ, Kao JH. Characteristics of patients with hepatitis C virus infection and antiviral treatment initiation in Taiwan: The MOSAIC study. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2020; 37:245-252. [PMID: 33089964 DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide. Monitoring its epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment patterns are important for the management of patients with chronic HCV infection from both individual and public health perspectives. The MOSAIC study was an observational study conducted in 20 countries, including Taiwan; its primary objective was to describe epidemiology and treatment initiation patterns in patients seeking HCV care. Of the 111 chronic HCV patients enrolled from Taiwan, 58 (52.3%) had not previously received treatment. HCV genotype 1 was reported in 58 (52.3%) patients, of whom the majority (n = 47; 81.0%) were identified as having subtype 1b. Sixty-two (55.9%) patients had HCV RNA level > 800 000 IU/mL. Liver cirrhosis was found in 35 (29.3%) patients and was more prevalent in patients who previously received treatment (71.0%). Interferon (IFN)-based treatment was started within 12 weeks from study inclusion in 12 (10.8%) patients, of whom 11 (91.7%) who had not previously received treatment. Anti-HCV treatment was not recommended by physicians in 70 (71.4%) and was refused by 23 (23.5%) patients. The MOSAIC study provides data on the epidemiology of HCV infection and IFN-based treatment decision patterns in Taiwan. Further studies are needed to observe the impact of IFN-free treatment on the treatment selection pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Lung Yu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine, and Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Lun Tsai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Jen Chu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Horng Kao
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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